BODRUM – Doğan News Agency

The district headquarters of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) in the Bodrum district of the western province of Muğla has hung a banner condemning the recent assault on a woman on a public bus in Istanbul for wearing shorts, saying “only a baby in her womb has the right to kick a woman.”

“No to violence against woman. Only a baby in her womb has the right to kick a woman,” read the banner put up by MHP Bodrum district head Cengizhan Sancar.

“Woman and children are our blessed ones. We are against all kinds of attacks based on a citizen’s way of dressing and actions. Everyone should respect each other, their lives and appearances. If they do not, these kinds of acts could be committed against women wearing headscarves in the future,” said Sancar.

“The actions will only serve to increase polarization among our citizens. Regarding any acts against women we witness it should be us men who intervene,” he added.

Outrage was stirred in Turkey after a 23-year-old nurse was kicked in the face on a bus in Istanbul by a man who said he was angry that she was wearing shorts on Sept. 12.

The assailant, Abdullah Çakıroğlu, was arrested by police on Sept. 19 after being released following his initial detention over the attack.